Relevant evidence

Type of outcomes

A systematic review of fair comparisons of interventions should measure outcomes that are important.

Learners, professionals and researchers may have different views about which outcomes are important.

For example, studies often measure outcomes, such as decoding ability, as surrogates for important outcomes, like reading ability. However, the effects of interventions on surrogate outcomes may not provide a reliable indication of the effects on outcomes that are important.

Always consider the possibility that outcomes that are important to you may not have been addressed in fair comparisons.

BEWARE not to be misled by surrogate outcomes.

REMEMBER to check what outcomes have been measured.